Christmas through the eyes of an Ohio State Trooper… Our emergency responders deserve a BIG THANK YOU during the holiday season as many see some horrific things that impact them for the rest of their lives. Too often, they have to deliver the worst news anyone could ever imagine. We can do them a favor […]
Earlier this year I wrote about the EPA Safety Alert regarding having high expectations of an Excess Flow Valve being a reliable safeguard to stop an uncontrolled flow of a HHC/EHS. This article is another example of how these valves should NOT be considered a safeguard and most certainly should NOT be the sole layer
A rat looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package. What food might it contain? He was aghast to discover that it was a rat trap. Retreating to the farmyard the rat proclaimed the warning; “There is a rat trap in the house, a rat trap
This week OSHA issued citations to a steel mill involving Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and the one citation that caught my eye revolved around a “group lockbox” situation. The citation reads “On and before 6/18/2012, the employer did not ensure that authorized employees used a personal lockout device to lock the group lockout box. Each authorized employee had
Many THANKS to my newest and RENEWING Corporate Partners in Safety… since 2007 since 2012 since 2012 since 2012 2012 Fatality Tracker Electrical 67 (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment 52 (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining 85 (2011 = 248) (2010 =
In processes handling flammable liquids, “flange jumpers” (also known as “bonding jumpers”) are critical safety components designed to maintain electrical continuity across piping joints. Since piping systems are often coated, gasketed, or subject to corrosion, a standard flanged connection may not provide a sufficiently low-resistance path to ground.
What GAO FoundOSHA’s process for accrediting Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL) is lengthy due to the scope of staff members’ responsibilities and unclear application procedures for accreditation. Among the 13 recently approved applications, OSHA took between 1 and 5 years to make accreditation decisions. All of these applications took much longer to approve than OSHA’s
James Hodgson once said: “I’ve never had any ambitions; only enthusiasms.” As the nation’s 12th Secretary of Labor, he leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in Occupational Safety and Health. Under his leadership as Secretary of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Nixon in 1972. “Safety
OSHA will extend its temporary enforcement measures in residential construction for three (3) more months. The temporary enforcement measures, now extended through March 15, 2013, include: priority free on-site compliance assistance, penalty reductions, extended abatement dates, measures to ensure consistency and increased outreach
OSHA has cited the company with three repeat and four serious violations following a June inspection as part of the agency’s Process Safety Management Covered Chemical Facilities national emphasis program (NEP). Proposed penalties total $99,000. The repeat citations issued for the process safety management standard violations include failing to inspect and test process equipment consistent
Most everyone knows that electrical panels must be kept clear at all times and last year I wrote an article explaining the “why’s” of this clearance requirement. Well now, NFPA is driving home the importance of these clearance requirements with a REVISION to the NEC, Sections 110.26(A) and 110.32. These PROPOSED revisions would more clearly define the
My hi level interlock just tripped on my vessel – can I count this trip as the scheduled quarterly/annual PM test? This question is maybe in the top 10 questions we get from PSM/RMP clients and friends and without a doubt one of the top 5 MI questions of all time. There is no argument
